• Naval Warfare

  Better late than never: Spanish Navy commissions its first S-80A submarine more than 10 years behind schedule

  11th December 2023

  The S-80A Plus, a new class of ocean-going submarines, will enhance the Spanish Navy’s capabilities despite the challenges and delays experienced during their development and delivery.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: How will the US Navy keep its EA-18G Growler EW aircraft flying until 2046?

  14th September 2023

  The carrier-based EA-18G Growler entered service in 2010 and is intended to remain in service until 2046. Shephard Defence Insight analyses the key operational technologies on the aircraft and the upgrade path needed to keep it flying and effective for another two decades.

• Air Warfare

  Delays in TR-3 software pushes out Belgian F-35A delivery timeline

  11th August 2023

  Belgium's plans to integrate F-35A fighter jets from Lockheed Martin hit a roadblock due to persistent delays in the deployment of the Technology Refresher 3 (TR-3) software.

• Land Warfare

  More SandCat light reconnaissance vehicles rushed into service with Israel

  23rd October 2023

  If the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) was set for a ground invasion of Gaza, lightly armoured vehicles such as the SandCat would likely play a key role.

• Air Warfare

  Ireland receives second C295 MPA

  18th October 2023

  Ireland now has two Airbus Defence and Space C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) which have replaced two CN235-100 MPAs purchased for the Irish Air Corps in 1994.

• Air Warfare

  UK-Sweden Gripen E fighter collaboration to focus on Meteor

  3rd November 2023

  The Swedish-UK new Strategic Partnership centres on Gripen E weaponisation, with a specific emphasis on the MBDA Meteor missile system.

• Land Warfare

  Ukraine to receive SurveilSPIRE C-UAS systems from Germany

  6th October 2023

  A new order has been made for Ukraine to receive automated SurveilSPIRE C-UAS systems from Germany’s Rheinmetall and Estonia’s DefSecIntel.

• Defence Notes

  US Army seeks 'fundamental transformation' to face future threats

  25th September 2023

  ‘The army is really undergoing its most fundamental transformation in 40 years. We are moving away from the system that we designed in the 80s’, Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth has claimed,

• Air Warfare

  UK Protector surveillance UAV begins trials

  24th October 2023

  A new uncrewed Royal Air Force aircraft, capable of global surveillance operations, will begin trials in the UK this week.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed Martin's Next Generation Interceptor completes preliminary design review

  17th October 2023

  Lockheed Martin's Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) will offer a new, advanced interceptor to protect the US homeland against long-range ballistic missile threats.

• Land Warfare

  UK awards £89 million contract to BAE Systems to enhance battlefield communications

  22nd August 2023

  The UK MoD has awarded an £89 million ($113 million) contract to BAE Systems to develop the deployable tactical wide area network (WAN) known as Trinity to provide highly secure battlefield internet capabilities.

• Training

  Boeing and Red 6 make moves on airborne augmented reality training

  21st November 2023

  Boeing and augmented reality training specialist Red 6 have achieved notable progress in integrating advanced technology into training aircraft.

• Training

  NATO exercise sharpens explosive defeating skills in the face of increasing threats

  13th October 2023

  The exercise took place on land and in the marine environment using EOD UGVs, submarine AUVs and special diving equipment to improve and sharpen the skills of participants.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing’s upgraded AH-64 Apache attack helicopter completes first flight

  16th October 2023

  The latest version of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter has been developed with optimised route and attack planning, advanced Link 16 capabilities and integration with open-systems interfaces.

• Air Warfare

  Indonesia signs MoU for Boeing F-15EX fighters

  22nd August 2023

  Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, Indonesia is still showing interest in obtaining F-15EX fighters from the US.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A [Netherlands]

  Programme Background The Netherlands was planning to procure a total of 46 aircraft for €5,5 billion ($6.17 billion) to replace its ageing F-16 Fighting Falcon ...

• Trainer

  S-211 Replacement [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines is looking at replacement options for its ageing fleet of S-211 trainer jets. The S-211s have been in operation with ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (1-8) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background Requirement Bulgarian MoD plans to procure 16 new-built fighter aircraft to replace its fleet of 15 Russian-manufactured MiG-29 fighters. Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block ...

• Maritime patrol

  AVSIMAR (France)

  Programme Background In November 2018, the French MoD announced that it awarded a contract for the detailed definition study of the future surveillance and maritime ...

• ISR/special mission

  Baekdu-II (South Korea)

  Programme Background This ISR aircraft programme, which first appeared on the 2020-24 Mid-Term Defense Acquisition Plan, comprises four Baekdu-II aircraft. These will add to two ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (Jordan)

  Programme Background On 3 February 2022, the US State Department announced that it has approved a potential sale of 12 F-16 C Block 70 aircraft,  four ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Requirement Turkish Air Force ordered 100 F-35A aircraft as a partner nation, however, the country was removed from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Denmark

  Denmark joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2002 during the System Development and Demonstration phase and has influenced technical elements of the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (9-16) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background In April 2022, the US State Department approved a potential FMS worth $1.673 million to procure eight F-16Vs to Bulgaria. The aircraft are ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Block 70 (Bahrain)

  Programme Background In 2018, the US government awarded a $1.12 billion contract to Lockheed Martin to produce 16 F-16 Block 70 aircraft for Bahrain, which ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16 Replacement [Portugal]

  Programme Background At the Portuguese National Defense Conference on April 22, 2025, General João Cartaxo Alves reaffirmed that the F-35A remains the sole viable successor ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Bradley M2A2 (Croatia)

  Programme Background First hinted at in 2017, the signing of a contract between Croatia and the US follows five years of negotiations. Seeking to fill ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Next Generation Fighter (Romania)

  In February 2022 Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Next Generation Fighter (Romania)

  In February 2022 Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Data links

  Data links | Next Generation Fighter (Romania)

  In February 2022 Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/ALQ-178(V)

  BAE System’s AN/ALQ-178(V) is an integrated self-protection system designed to protect combat aircraft. During its service life it has outfitted several airframes including the Dassault ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F101-GE-102

  Manufactured by GE Aviation, the F101-GE-102 was a turbofan engine that weighed 1,996kg and powered the B-1B Lancer. It delivered 30,000lbs of thrust. The engine’s ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 25, 30/32, 40/42

  The F-16C/D ('C' one-seat, 'D' two-seat designation) is the second generation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family. The production of the F-16C/D began in 1983 with ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-14

  The AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) targeting pod is a crucial component of the LANTIRN system, developed by Martin Marietta ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-83 SABR

  The AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar being developed by Northrop Grumman using its own ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16E/F Block 60

  The F-16E/F Block 60/61 ('E' single-seat, 'F' dual-seat) is a fourth-generation multirole combat aircraft introduced as part of the Fighting Falcon family. It is also ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ASPIS

  The Advanced Self-Protection Integrated Suite (ASPIS) was developed by Raytheon to equip the Hellenic Air Force's fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft. It was ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16A/B Block 1, 5, 10, 15, 20

  The F-16 Fighting Falcon programme started as a low-cost, highly manoeuvrable day fighter to complement the higher-cost, heavier McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  TJ 20A

  The TJ 20A is a small engine designed for UAV applications. The engine is controlled by a fuel pump, electronic valves and sensors integrated in ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-2A/B

  Based on the design of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family, the F-2 Support Fighter is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft produced for the Japan Air ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 50/52/52+

  A member of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family, the F-16C/D Block 50/52 ('C' single-seat, 'D' dual-seat) is a third-generation multirole fighter that was rolled out ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-66

  The AN/APG-66 is an X-band, solid-state, medium-range pulse-Doppler radar designed for the F-16 Fighting Falcon, now adapted to platforms including Hawk 200, PBN Defender, Skyhawk, T-39N ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F100-PW-100

  The origin of the F100-PW-100 engine can be traced back to 1970 when Pratt & Whitney won a competition to design and manufacture the propulsion ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/ALQ-213(V) DAC

  Terma’s AN/ALQ-213(V) electronic warfare management unit is used extensively on General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon series combat aircraft around the world. The AN/ALQ-213(V) is ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  PGM-500/PGM-2000

  The PGM-500 and PGM-2000 are short-range ASMs manufactured in the UK and the US. They were developed and originally manufactured by Alenia Marconi Systems and ...